Long lasting economy vehicle
Bought this in 2009 from a guy who hadn't taken very good car of it. It still ran, but barely. Plugs, wires, filters, oil and a new catalytic converter and it ran great. It starts at -40F and the heater keeps the windows clear, the A/C keeps it comfortable in weather up to 95F (the warmest I've driven it in). The engine is big enough for the vehicle, but I doubt it would do well with a trailer, you can feel the engine working harder with four adults in it. I really like the size of the cabin, fold down the seats and you've got room for 8' boards. With seats up and two carseats in the back you still have room for a double stroller and groceries.
There are some down sides. I'm impressed with the continued gas milage near 30mpg in the summer (I don't check in the winter because I let it warm up for 10-15 min every time I drive it.) Note: The odometer is both a. beyond it mechanical limit and b. not accurate, so I have no milage comparisons. The 1.9L engine is pretty underpowered for anything heavy, that being said, this vehicle isn't made for heavy stuff. The seat belts in the back have stopped locking in place and you can't buy new ones anymore, now we can't use it for the kids because it just isn't safe. The rear defrost only works on the top half and the rear wiper, while moves, has a blown spring and won't make contact with the glass. I've replaced the following: Half axles, Oil pan, Front shocks, Catalytic converter, TPS, O2 sensor, radio, Computer (I don't know if it needed it, but I got a hold of a new one so I put it in), Rear hatch struts, Rims, sun visors. It needs a new sub woofer, but that isn't a priority for me.
Currently 1st gear is going in the automatic transmission, so I'm in the market. I wish it was worth it to fix this vehicle because I love the setup, but we need something safe for the kids.